Tube-forming machine



Nov. 9, 1948. E. R. PHILLIPS TUBE FORMING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledApril 12, 1946 INVEN P E. R. PHILLIPS TUBE FORMING MACHINE NGV. 9, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1;; 1946 Patented Nov. s, 194s Y 2,453,537

UNITED sTArs TUBE -FORMIN G MACHINE Edwin R. Phillips, Evanston, Ill.,assignor to Morton Salt Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application April 12, 1946, Serial No. 661,776 9 Claims. (01.93-80) The invention relates generally to a machine taken approximatelyalcngthe line 2-.-2 of Figl'l. for forming'paper tubes and moreparticularly Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional View taken ap-: to amachine for continuously forming paper proximately along the line 33 ofFig.1. tubesby wrapping strips of paper on a rotating Fig. 4 is atransverse sectional view taken apmandrel; i i 5 proximately along theline 6-4 of Fig. 1. Q a Machines of the general type above describedWhile the invention is susceptible of various have long beensatisfactorily employed for the modifications and alternativeconstructions, it is forming of cylindrical tubes, the formation of hereshown in the drawings andwill hereinafter such tubes on rotatingmandrels presenting very be described in a preferred embodiment. It isnot. few problems because of the uniform distances, I intended, however,that the invention is to be and hence speeds, of all surfaces of therotating limited thereby to the specific construction dis mandrel, andthe tube being formed thereon, from closed. On the contrary, it isintended to cover the center of the mandrel. The formation of allmodifications and alternativeconstructions noncylindrical tubes in thismanner has, however, falling within the spirit and scope of theinvenpresented many problems some of which are still tion as defined inthe appended claimso not satisfactorily overcome even though there .Asshown in the drawings for 'purposes'of disare on them'arket machinesdesigned to form closure, the machine comprises generally abed tubeshaving a plurality of straight sides. or base l0 having upstanding fromone end there- It is a general object of the invention, thereof, hereinthe right end as viewed in Fig. 1, a fore, to provide anew and improvedmachine for column I I. Extending longitudinally of the bed formingnoncylindrical paper tubes ona rotating i0 is a mandrel. generally desiated ich mandrel. i i Q at its right hand end, as viewed in Fig. 1, hasa A more particular object is to provide a. mareduced cylindricalportion I 3 which is journaled chine forforming noncylindrical papertubes by in th col mn Th rem n n p i n l of the Winding of stripso'fpaper on a rotating mant e mandrel is erein s OWn s rectangular, drel inwhich themandrel may be rotated conthough it is to be understood thatthe portion tinuously and at a higher speed than that of M of themandrel may take any other sh p present machines while, at the same timethe c dins.cy n r ca t ug e t o p strips are caused to conform preciselyto the marily concerned with the formation of noncylin mandrel to resultin a concisely and accurately drical tubes. The noncylindrical portion[4 of the formed tube. mandrel is hollow (Fig. 2)but-is closed at theAnother object of the invention is to provide nd emot f om t e ucportion 3- a tube-forming machine in which the strips of At the lefthand end, as viewed in Fig. 1, the paper compiled to form the tube arecaused closely mandrel i2 is engagedby means, generally desigto hug andto conform to the mandrel by fluid nated l5, serving as'a support forthat end of the pressure acting on the strips of paper as it is mandrel,driving means for the mandrel and wound on the mandrel. means forstripping the formed tube from the Still another object is to provide atube-formmandrel. This means comprises a drum l6 hav ing machine havinga rotatable mandrel upon 40 ing at each end a radially outwardlyextending which the strips of paper are Wound to form flang l efi ng areceived in grooved the tube and a cylindrical casing surroundingrollers 13 mounted on the bed 10 so as rotatably the mandrel over alength thereof including the to support the drum it while at the sametime point of application of the strips of paper to the retain ng thedrum a nst a a movement: mandrel, and jets carried by the'casingdirected termediate the flanges H, the drum is formed radially inwardlyagainst the mandrel and dis- W t a omew a reduc d r c forming a chargingfluid under high pressure for impinging pulley for the reception of adrive belt 20 which against the strips of paper. extends to any suitablepower source such as an i I Other objects and advantages willbecomeapelectric motor (not here shown). Extending in pa-rent from thefollowing detailed description wardly, as best seen in Fig. 4, are pairsof brackets taken in connection with the accompanying draw- 2 Rotatablysupported in each pair of brackets ings, in which: is aroller 22 and,inasmuch as it is desirableto Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view primarily inelehave a roller engage each face of the mandrel l2,

vation but partially in section of a tube forming the pairs of bracketsand the number of rollers machine embodying the features of myinvention. will correspond to the number of faces onzthe Fig. 2 is apartial, transverse sectional view mandrel. Themandrellz, herein shownbeing"- rectangular, there are four rollers 22. As will readily beunderstood, the rollers as a whole rotate with the drum |3 so as toserve as a support and as a driving means for the mandrel.

In order that the rollers 22 may also serve as a means for stripping theformed tube off of the mandrel, means is provided for rotating eachroller 22 about its axis. To that end each roller is keyed to a shaft 23extending axially thereof and in turn rotably journaled in the pairs ofbrackets 2|. At one end each shaft 23 projects througha bracket 2| andat that end carries nonrotatably fixed thereon a bevel gear 24. Eachbevel gear 24 in turn meshes witha bevel gear 25 fast on a shaft 26extending generally parallel with the mandrel l2 and rotatably supportedin yoke-like brackets 21 also formed integral with the drum H5. At theend remote from the bevel 26 has fast thereon a spur 28 in turn meshwith an gear 25, each shaft gear 28. The spur gears internally toothedring gear 23 which is nonrotatably supported on the bed It) coaxiallywith the mandrel l2 and the drum Hi. It will be readily understood thatas the drum is rotated it will, of course, carry with it the rollers 22and thus, through the rollers, will impart rotation to the mandrel l2.At the same time, this rotation of the drum will through the action ofthe stationary ring gear 29 and the geared connection of the rollers 22therewith rotate the rollers. The direction of rotation of, the drumwill, of course, be

such that the rollers 22 rotate in a direction to feed the formed tubeoff of the free end, herein the left hand end, of the mandrel l2.

Tubes of the character here in question are composed of several plies orlayers of paper strips 30, gummed to adhere and overlap so that onelayer covers the joint formed between the strips of an adjacent layer.The strips of paper 30 are, in well known manner and as seen in Fig. 1,applied to lie diagonally of the faces of the mandrel and are maintainedunder a desired tension. Inasmuch as'the means for gluing andpositioning the strips of paper and for maintaining them under desiredtension are all common and well known L and form no feature of thisinvention, they are not here shown.

As above indicated, difficulties are experienced in formingnoncylindrical tubing on a continuously rotating mandrel and, whilemachines have been designed for formingnoncylindrical tubing, they areeither of a highly complicated character or operate at a very lowproduction rate, or are otherwise not the final, complete solution tothis problem. It is a feature of this invention to provide a simple yetexpedient means for making possible formation of a, noncylindrical tubeon a rapidly revolving mandrel. This means herein takes the, form of acylinder 3| disposed in concentric relationship to the mandrel l2intermediate the column I! and the drum |6. The cylinder BI is of aminimum diameter which will still permit rotation of the rectangularportion i l of the mandrel therein and is of a length to extend from apoint adjacent the drum l6 toward the column beyond the point ofapplication of the strips 30 to the mandrel. One of the functions of.thecylinder 3| is to provide a support for means that; serve to producea constant but yieldable force urging the strips 30 to conform to thecontour of the mandrel. This force takes the form of jets which aredirected inwardly against the mandrel and thus impinge against thestrips 30 being wound on the .mandrel. To the end of creating thisconstant .but yieldable force which,

is contemplated that travels without friction over the strips as themandrel is rotated, the cylinder 3| is made with an outer wall 32 and aninner Wall 33 so as to form therebetween an annular chamber 34. Openingto the chamber 34 through the outer wall 32 is a conduit 35 forsupplying suitable fluid under pressure from a source not here shown.Normally it this fluid will be air, though it is conceivable that otherfluid may prove usable and more desirable. 33 are a plurality ofradially inwardly directed nozzles 36 through which the fluid in thechamber 34 is discharged to form the jets above described. Each of thenozzles 33 preferably is somewhat elongated and disposed with itslongitudinal dimension longitudinally of the cylinder so as to dischargean elongated rather than a more nearly circular jet. By Way ofillustration, it being understood that the arrangement may be varied tosuit diiferent conditions, a majority of the nozzles 36 areherein shownarranged in four longitudinal rows disposed respectively in the verticaland the horizonal diametrioal planes of the cylinder. Of these rows ofnozzles the top row extends from near the left hand end of the cylinderto the extreme right hand end, whilethe other rows may terminate one ortwo nozzles short of the right hand end of the cylinder dependingsomewhat on the pitch, that is, angle, of the strips 30 being Wound onthe mandrel.

Additional nozzles are provided and so located as to assure theimpingement of one or more jets on the strips at and in advance ofthepoint of application of the strips to the mandrel, that being thecritical point in the formation of the tube. Among the difficultiesexperienced in the past when a continuously and rapidly rotatingnon-cylindrical mandrel is employed is that of getting the strips 30 tolie flat against the sides of the mandrel. The whip given to thestripsas they are pulled at different speeds because of the difference inradius of various portions of. the mandrel and the centrifugal forcetends to cause the strips to bulge radially outwardly preventing theirproper adherence to the adjacentinner layer or tier and tendsto causeimproper point contact. The result of such whipping and improper advancepoint contact is, of course excess material for the side of the tuberesulting in a wrinkle or fold when the strips 30 are eventuallyconformed precisely to the mandrel. Accordingly, Fig. 2) are provided atthe right hand end of the cylinder 3| and in such positioncircumferentially. of the cylinder as to impinge against the strips 30prior to or at the point or of the strips with the mandrel. Herein asingle row of such additional nozzles 31 is shown. It is to beunderstood that additional rows may be employed if it proves desirableor necessary. This row of nozzles is spaced approximately 4.5 in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, from the top row of nozzles inView of the fact that the curved to form a smooth guide for the stripsof 1 paper 30.

As will readily be seen from the drawings, particularly Fig. 2, the jetsfrom the top row of nozzles 36 and from the nozzles 31 impinge againstthe strips 30 prior to the contact thereof with the mandrel and thustend to bow the strips in- Mounted in the inner wall.

a plurality of additional nozzles 31 (see.

time of engagement wardly, overcoming any outward whip that might begiven to the strips. The strips thus are at all times urged toward theflat surfaces and thereby the contact of the strips with the mandrel isa progressive one and not'a skip point contact resulting in an excessivelength of strip for a given side of the mandrel. The other jets comeinto play after the strips have made contact with the mandrel and retainthe strips tightly against the sides of the mandrel continuously fromthe time that the strips are first applied, and when the adhesive thushas not yet had an opportunity to set, until the adhesive has set andthe tube has taken adefinite form.

While it is believed that the jets will retain the strips in closeconformity with the mandrel, the cylinder 3| is provided with endclosures M and so as to make of the cylinder 3| a pressure chamber. Theend closure 4i may conven iently be supportedon longitudinal extensions43 of the brackets 2i and thus rotate with the drum l6 and with themandrel l2. The "closure 42 maybe supported directly from the mandrell2. The closure 42 may, of course, have an air tight fit with themandrel l2 while the closure 4! will have to be spaced from the mandrela sufiicient distance to permit passage of the formed tube therethrough.It is, however, not essential that the cylinder be completely air-tight.matter of fact, it is imperative that there be some provision for theescape of fluid from the cylinder because there is a constant supply offluid to the cylinder through the nozzles 36 and 37. Thus the endclosures need serve only to cause the building upof pressure need notseal the cylinder.

To enhance the effectiveness of the pressure built up within thecylinder 3!, the mandrel !2 may over a portion of its length be formedwith radial apertures 44 and the cylindrical portion I3 of the mandrelformed with an axial passage 45 adapted through a conduit 46 to beconnected to a vacuum or suction pump (not hereshown). In this way, apressure differential may be established and thus further aid inretaining the strips conforming precisely to the shape of the mandrel.The radial apertures 44 preferably are formed in the mandrel only overthat length of the mandrel within the cylinder 3! that is for the mostpart covered by strips 30. The extent of pressure differential shouldnot be too great because of the difiiculty which would then beencountered in stripping the formed tube off of the mandrel. h

It will be apparent therefore that I have perfected a means for readilyand conveniently providing a yieldable yet ever-present force or pres-3! against the flat sides that, in par- As a matter of fact, with myconstruction a progressive contact of the strips with the surfaces ofthe mandrel is effected assuring a close conformity of the strips to theBy this progressive contact of the drel makes contact with the strips.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a paper-tubeforming machine, a rotatablemandrel upon which strips of paper are wound to form the tube, means forrotating said mandrel and for continuously stripping from said mandreloif of a free end thereof the formed tube, and means for directingastream of fluid bothbefore and after application to said mandrel to urgethe strips radially inwardly toward engagement withthe mandrel.

2. In a paper-tube-forming machine, a rotatable mandrel upon whichstrips of paper are wound to form the tube, means for rotatingsaidmandrel and for continuously stripping from said mandrel oii of a freeend thereof the formed tube, a plurality of rows of nozzles extendinglongitudinally of said mandrel in spaced relation thereto and directedradially inwardly against said mandrel, fluid under pressure to saidnozzles. i

3. In a paper-tube-forming machine, a rotatable mandrel having anoncylindrical portion upon which strips of paper are wound to form thetube,means for rotating said mandrel and for continuously stripping theformed tube off of a free end of said mandrel, and means for directing astream of fluid against the outside of the inside of said strips ofpaper to cause progressive contact of the strips with said mandrel.

4. In a paper-tube-forming machine, a rotatable mandrel having anoncylindrical portion upon which strips of paper are wound to form thetube, means for rotating said mandreland for continuously stripping theformed tube off of a free end of said mandrel, a plurality of rows ofnozzles extending longitudinally of and directed radially inwardly ofsaid mandrel and positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship tobe disposed on all sides of said mandrel, and means for supplying fluidunder pressure to said nozzles for discharge therefrom in impingingrelationship against the strips.

5. In a paper-tube-forming machine, a rotatable mandrel having anoncylindrical porton upon which strips of means for rotating saidmandrel and for continuously stripping the formed tube off of a free endof said mandrel, a plurality of rows of radially inwardly directednozzles extending longitudinally of said mandrel and positioned incircumferentially spaced relationship to be disposed on all sides ofsaid mandrel, an auxiliary row of nozzles also extending generallylongitudinally of said mandrel and spaced a short peripheral distance inthe direction of rotation of said mandrel from a perpendicular to theaxis of said mandrel,

' and means for discharging fluid under pressure through said nozzles.

6. In a paper-tube-forming machine, a rotatable mandrel having anoncylindrical portion upon which strips of paper are wound to form thetube, means for rotating said mandrel and for continuously stripping theformed tube oil of a free end of said mandrel, a plurality of rows ofnozzles extending longitudinally of said mandrel,

said rows of nozzles being uniformly spaced cirsection of the stripspassing through the rows of nozzles, an auxiliary row of nozzles spaceda further distance in the direction of and means for supplying paper arewound to form the tube,

drel 'and forcing the strips to lie flat on the mandrel.

'7, In a, paper-tube-foming machine, a rotatable mandrel having anoncylindrical portion upon which strips of paper are wound to form thetube, means for rotating said mandrel and for continuously stripping theformed tube off of a free end of said mandrel, a cylinder surroundingsaid mandrel at the point of application of strips to said mandrel andextending in opposite directions from that point, said cylinder beingdouble-walled to form an annular chamber, a plurality of rows of nozzlesextending longitudinally of said cylinder and opening through the innerwall thereof to communicate with the annular chamber, said rows ofnozzles being uniformly spaced circumferentially of said cylinder, aslot in said cylinder through which the strips of paper are fed to saidmandrel, said slot being positioned slightly behind one row of nozzlesconsidered in the direction of rotation of said mandrel and an auxiliaryrow of nozzles carried by said cylinder somewhat in advance of said lastidentified row of nozzles, and means for supplying fluid under pressureto said annular chamber for discharge as radially inwardly directed jetsimpinging on the strips of paper both prior and subsequent to contact ofthe strips with said mandrel.

'8. In a paper-tube-forming machine a rotatable mandrel a noncylindricalportion upon which strips of paper are wound to form the tube, means forcontinuously rotating said mandrel and for continuously stripping oil ofa free end of said mandrel, means forming a pressure chamber surroundingsaid mandrel at the formed tube I the point of application of the stripsof paper thereto and for a distance in the direction of extension of thetube being formed, and a plurality of nozzles for discharging fluid inthe-form of jets positioned to impinge on the strip of paper prior tocontact thereof with the mandrel.

9. In a paper-tube-forming machine a hollow rotatable mandrel having anoncy-lindrical portion upon which strips of paper are wound to form thetube, means for continuously rotating said mandrel and for continuouslystripping the formed tube off of a free end of said mandrel, meansforming a pressure chamber surrounding saidmandrel at the point ofapplication of the strips of paper thereto and for a distance in thedirection of extension of the tube being formed, a plurality of nozzlesdisposed within said chamber forming means directed radially inwardlyfor the discharge therefrom of jets impinging upon the strip wound onsaid mandrel both before and after contact of the strip with themandrel, said mandrel having apertures formed thereinin the portiondisposed within said pressure chamber forming means, and means forcreating a vacuum in the mandrel. v

EDWIN R. PHILLIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

PATENTS UNITED STATES Number Name Date 331,723 Lorenz et a1. 'Dec. 1,1885 1,054,961 Dean Mar. 4, 1913 1,215,648 Griflith Feb. 13, .1917

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,453,537. November 9, 1948.

EDWIN R. PHILLIPS It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctionas follows:

Column 6, line 26, claim 3, strike out the words inside of said andinsert the same after the and before strips in line 27, same claim;

and that the said Letters Patent should be-read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the PatentOflice.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of March, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Am'atant Uommzasioner of Patents.

